The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-06-02
Loss to St raul.

During Tuesday night, tho 9th, inst.
Commodore William +. Davidson was Vi
tied with stroke Of paralysis Of tho left
side from which he never rallied, though
regaining mental power and retaining IL
until seven O'Clock OF Thursday evening, tho
a6th, when death fully accomplished its
work During Wednesday and Thursday he
suffered great pain, but continued Cheerful!
though fully aware that . few hours would
terminate his career, saying he was not
afraid to die. On Wednesday ho dictated
his will and executed it with all the COM
posure that was part Of his general de-
meanor. At his bedside TO catch In his last
son Edward E., aged %, and his daughter,
Sallie n, aged "A, and other relatives. Ten
minutes before his heart ceased its functions
he answered . question OF his physician
with the full tone and recognition OF con-
sciousness.
From 1854 when Commodore Davidson
came up the Mississippi river in his little
steamboat, tho Franklin Steele, until this
time, no man has been more closely or in
fluentinlly identified with the history,
growth and prosperity Of St Paul than hc.
Then young man, unmarried, and
than for other purposes, his quick, in
telligent mind .grssped the possibilities
OF the future and he settled down to become
lifelong factor in their development.
Bred to q life upon the waters from early
youth, and for some time before the COM
well % . boat own0r, he at once established
packet company on the Minnesota river,
then extensively navigable. following that
with tho Lacrosse aud Minnesota Packet
company and later the st. Louis q St. Paul
Packet company, the latter still in operation.
Prosperity attended his endeavors and he
soon become the owner OF fifteen steam
boats required for the great business that
opened up, and Was King OF the river for the
prosperous years before the railroad period,
personally snperintending the multitude OF
detail involved the operation OF the Extensive
transportation demands. With his oars in
Father Of Waters he had his faith upon the
land and invested his surplus In st. Paul
real estate, which with the growth Of tho
city and his own improvements placed in him
at the time Of big death the title to property
Of the value OF g, ,DOO, GOO, the Grand Opera
House, Davidson block, Union block, being
among the more prominent and slightly
structures, and his rent reaching 100000 .
year.
He was one of the founders Of the St.
Paul Chamber OF Commerce, and with
generous public spirit was active in the
promotion Of railway and other important
enterprises, wasting no time upon politics
or any class Of side issues, but devoted
to business pure and simple, his hands were
always full and his life active to the fullest
1AluISs auu ~ ~ uO Injustice 10 uN &OOO name
and memory to sayt hat, all unconsciously he
allowed himself to hecome overworked
cutting short his useful life in its pnime but
he met that result with the heroic fertitude
Of christian faith, exhibiting the thought
fulncss OF supreme manhood. Always
approachahlc, dting uIostentatious deeds
Of charity, his life WIS record Of good
will and his monument is in the hearts Of
his friends and fellow citizens
Commodore Davidson was born IN Law
renee county, Ohio, February I, 1875 and
married in 1855 TO an cstimaLle lady OF that
vicinage. His hoyhood was passed in the
business OF his father, on the Ohio canal,
though before he was twenty he became the
master and owner OF small river craft
His educational opportunities were limited,
but be was student and grew up well In
formed, capable and successful man. For
thirty years and mere his home has been at
st. Paul, his absences being only temporary,
as business demanded; there his children lie
buried, and there his family survive him
enjoying the recollection OF bis kindly
qualities A. husband ard parent, ! priceless
inheritance, whale the public at large have
abundant cause to honor and revere his
memory.